AD 2005-04-01 Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 707-100, -100B, -300, -300B (Including -320B Variant), -300C, and -E3A (Military) Series Airplanes; Model 720 and 720B Series Airplanes; Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 Series Airplanes; and Model 747 Airplanes

This AD applies to the airplanes listed in Table 1 of this AD, certificated in any category. Table 1.—Applicability Model— As listed in— (1) 707-E3A (military), -100, -100B, -300, -300B (-320B variant), and -300C series airplanes; and 720 series airplanes Boeing Alert Service Bulletin A3505, dated November 1, 2001. (2) 707-100, -100B, -300, -300B (including -320B variant), and -300C series airplanes; and 720 and 720B series airplanes Boeing Service Bulletin 3513, dated November 6, 2003. (3) 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes Boeing Service Bulletin 737-28A1174, Revision 1, dated July 18, 2002. (4) 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200C, -200F, -300, -400, -400D, and -400F series airplanes; and 747SP and 747SR series airplanes Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-28A2239, Revision 1, dated October 17, 2002. (5) 747-400 and -400F series airplanes Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-28A2245, Revision 1, dated August 21, 2003.

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done. Service Bulletins (f) The term “service bulletin,” as used in this AD, means the Work Instructions of the applicable service bulletins specified in the “As Listed In” column of Table 1 of this AD. (g) Actions specified in paragraphs (h) through (i) of this AD that were done before the effective date of this AD in accordance with the applicable service information listed in Table 2 of this AD are acceptable for compliance with the applicable requirements of this AD. Table 2.—Acceptable Original Issues of Service Bulletins For model— Boeing Alert Service Bulletin— (1) 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes 737-28A1174, dated December 20, 2001. (2) 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200C, -200F, -300, -400, -400D, and -400F series airplanes; and 747SP and 747SR series airplanes 747-28A2239, dated November 29, 2001. (3) 747-400 and -400F series airplanes 747-28A2245, dated November 26, 2002. Resistance Test, Other Specified Actions, and Corrective Actions (h) For the airplanes identified in paragraphs (h)(1) through (h)(4) of this AD: Within 5 years after the effective date of this AD, do an electrical bonding resistance test between the bulkhead fittings of the engine fuel feed tube and the front spar inside the fuel tank of the wings to determine the resistance, and do other specified actions and applicable corrective actions, by accomplishing all the actions specified in paragraph 3.B. of the applicable service bulletin. Do the actions in accordance with the service bulletin, except as provided by paragraphs (j) and (k) of this AD. Do the applicable corrective actions before further flight. (1) Model 707-E3A (military), -100, -100B, -300, -300B (-320B variant), and -300C series airplanes; and Model 720 series airplanes. (2) Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. (3) Model 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200C, -200F, -300, -400, -400D, and -400F series airplanes; and Model 747SP and 747SR series airplanes. (4) Model 747-400 and -400F series airplanes. (i) For Model 707-100, -100B, -300, -300B (including -320B variant), and -300C series airplanes; and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes: Within 5 years after the effective date of this AD, do an electrical bonding resistance test of the over-wing fuel fill ports for the wing tanks No. 1 and No. 4 and the center wing tank to determine the resistance, and do applicable corrective actions, by accomplishing all the actions specified in paragraph 3.B. of the applicable service bulletin. Do the actions in accordance with the service bulletin, except as provided by paragraphs (j) and (k) of this AD. Do the applicable corrective actions before further flight. Repeat the electrical bonding resistance test thereafter at intervals not to exceed 14,000 flight hours. FAA-Accepted Equivalent Procedures (j) Operators may use their own FAA-accepted equivalent procedures for draining the fuel tanks and gaining access to the fuel tanks. No Identification of Front Spar (k) Although the service bulletin referenced in this AD specifies to identify the front spar on the visible forward surface with the service bulletin number or equivalent, this AD does not include that requirement. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (l) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Material Incorporated by Reference (m) You must use the service information that is specified in Table 3 of this AD to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of those documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the service information, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. For information on the availability of this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html . You may view the AD docket at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC. Table 3.—Material Incorporated by Reference Boeing— Revision level Date (1) Alert Service Bulletin A3505 Original November 1, 2001. (2) Service Bulletin 3513 Original November 6, 2003. (3) Service Bulletin 737-28A1174 Revision 1 July 18, 2002. (4) Alert Service Bulletin 747-28A2239 Revision 1 October 17, 2002. (5) Alert Service Bulletin 747-28A2245 Revision 1 August 21, 2003. Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 26, 2005. Ali Bahrami, Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 05-2831 Filed 2-15-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD was prompted by our determination that this AD is necessary to reduce the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks. We are issuing this AD to prevent arcing or sparking at the interface between the bulkhead fittings of the engine fuel feed tube and the front spar inside the fuel tank of the wings and between the overwing fuel fill ports and the airplane structure during a lightning strike. Such arcing or sparking could provide a possible ignition source for the fuel vapor inside the fuel tank and cause consequent fuel tank explosions.